Compact umbrella



M. A JONES COMPACT UMBRELLA Jan. 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22,1965 INVENTOR.

Marl A. Jones v l'll'Ill Jan. 2, 1968 M. A JONES 3,361,145

COMPACT UMBRELLA Filed Oct. 22, 19 65 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MURL A. I JozvEs United States Patent M 3,361,145 COMPACT UMBRELLA MurlA. Jones, Rte. 1, Box 894, Land Drive, Columbus, Ga. 31904 Filed Oct.22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,843 1 Claim. (Cl. 135-20) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A compact umbrella of simplified construction wherein twopanels are sealed together to form a substantially circular area dividedinto wedge-shaped inflatable segments. When deflated this umbrella,including a detachable telescopic handle, is small enough to be insertedin a plastic envelope and carried in a pocket or handbag.

This invention relates to protective coverings, and more particularly toa compact inflatable umbrella.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide a compactumbrella which will be made .of soft, durable plastic which will beinflatable and will be constructed to form an arcuate hood which, wheninflated, will provide suflficient coverage for a person.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compact umbrella whichwill be full cantilever in construction, and will have no support ribssuch as is known in the prior art.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a compact umbrellawhich will have a removable and telescopic handle, and the entire devicewill be lightweight and will fold in such a manner as to be received ina small envelope which may be carried upon ones person.

This invention will be easy to inflate, requiring very little exertionand can be carried in a ladys purse without crowding.

This invention will also be particularly useful to students, because itfolds flat so that they can carry it with their books or in their coatpockets. School band students will also find this compact umbrellasuitable to their needs since it may be placed into a uniform pocketwithout causing an unsightly bulge in the uniform.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention is not limited to the details disclosed butincludes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spiritof the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of this invention shown fully inflated;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1and viewed in direction indicated by arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical view of the handle member of theinvention shown removed from the assembly and shown partly broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the plastic envelope for receiving theinvention;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a modified form of theinvention; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the form of the invention shownin FIGURE 5.

According to this invention, a compact umbrella 10 is provided with apair of circular panels 12 made of soft, plastic material having radialspaced-apart sleevelike compartments 14 which are inflatable with airand providing rigid and arcuate form to panls 12 which form PatentedJan. 2, 1968 a protective covering against rain. An air valve 16 extendsexternally of one of the sleeve compartment 14 and provides a means forthe introduction of air into umbrella 10. An annular hollow compartment18 is intersected by radial sleeve compartments 14 and provides a meansin conjunction with sleeve compartment 14 to impart a firm umbrellashape to the invention. An annular member 19 is secure-d by suitablemeans to the outer edges of panel 12 and closes compartments 14 in orderto prevent the escape of air from within. A pair of circular plates 20made of aluminum or other suitable material are secured on either sideof panels 12 in the center and are provided with an opening 22 whichreceives the end 24 or rod 26 which is part of handle 22. End 24 of rod26 is externally threaded and is threadingly received within saidopening 22 of plate 20. Rod 26 is telescopingly received within hollowsleeves 28 and 30 and provides handle extension means for umbrella 10.Lower extremity of sleeve 30 is knurled on its outer periphery toprovide easy hand grip means for rotating sleeve 30 and is provided witha shoulder to prevent sleeve 30 from slipping from the hand of the user.Umbrella 10, when deflated and disassembled, is compactly receivedwithin envelope 34, which is made of plastic, rubber, or similarmaterial.

A swivel joint 36 near the upper extremity of rod 26 provides a meansfor frictionally urging plates 20 to side of the central axis of thedevice when desired.

To lengthen handle portion of umbrella 10, rod 26 is grasped in one handand sleeve 30 in the other and thus the assembly may be extended. Toinflate umbrella 10, air is introduced into valve 16 in a well knownmanner, whereupon it enters the annular compartment 18 and commences tofill all of the sleeve compartments 14 to form a concave umbrellastructure. As will become apparent, the inflatable structure of umbrella10 may be made of various colors and the exterior of plate 20 may beinscribed with a design to enhance the appear ance of umbrella 10.

Looking now at FIGURE 5 of the drawing, one will see a preferred form ofcompact umbrella 38 which is shown to include a pair of circular plasticpanels 40 which are sealed along their outer edges by means of a seam42. Panels 40 are provided with regularly spaced-apart seams 44 whichextend partially to seam 42 at one end and partially toward the centerat the other end and thus define substantially wedge-shaped inflatablecompartments 46 which are inflated by means of a conventional air valve48. A pair of circular center plates 50 provides a means for threadinglyreceiving handle 32.

Umbrella 38 is inflated in the same manner as heretofore described.

It will be noted that the sealed edges 42 of umbrella 38 does preventthe escape of air from around the outer edges of inflatable compartments46.

What I claim is:

1. A compact inflatable umbrella comprising a pair of circular panels,said panels being formed of flexible impermeable plastic material, apair of circular plates, said circular plates being positioned at thecenter of said panels, one of said plates being provided with aplurality of apertures and positioned above the other with the centerportion of said panels being gripped therebetween, said plates beingprovided at their centers with threaded openings, a telescopic handlehaving threads at one end thereof releasably secured to said circularplates, said panels being joined together at their outer edges by aseam, a plurality of radially extending seams bonding said circularpanels together and extending from points spaced outwardly from saidcircular plates to points spaced inwardly from the outer sealed edges ofthe panels to define a plurality of interconnected inflatable areas,

panels.

4 o and an air valve extending externally from one of said 2,679,2565/1954 Bocchino et a1 13520.1 2,753,878 7/1956 Halberstarn 135-20.1References Cited 3,120,238 2/1964 Glatz 135-21 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primal Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner.

